News

Carlin to make British F4 return in 2019

05 Oct 18

5 October 2018 – The Carlin team will look to challenge for a fourth title in the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost after confirming that it will return to the series in 2019.

Carlin was one of the first teams to enter British F4 when it joined the UK motorsport scene as the replacement for Formula Ford back in 2015, initially under the MSA Formula name, and secured the inaugural championship title with Lando Norris.

The team successfully defended the title twelve months later with Max Fewtrell and then made it three championship titles out of three in 2017 with Jamie Caroline before electing to take a year-long sabbatical from the series as it embarked on a new programme in the IndyCar Series.

Carlin now returns to British F4 looking to add to an enviable record of success on track.

Norris, Fewtrell and Caroline are amongst eight Carlin drivers to have taken to the top step of the podium in the series, giving the team an enviable record of 37 race victories from 90 starts. Carlin is also one shy of 100 podium finishes in the series, whilst its drivers have led 582 laps – more than 40 per cent of the total run across the three seasons in which it competed.

On the back of his British F4 title success, Norris has gone on to enjoy title success in both Formula Renault and Formula 3, and will become the first graduate from the series to compete in Formula 1 when he makes his race debut with McLaren next season.

Fewtrell and Caroline meanwhile are on the four-driver short-list – alongside new British F4 champion Kiern Jewiss – for the 2018 McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver Award.

News on Carlin’s driver line-up for 2019 will be announced in due course, with the team making its return to competition when the new season kicks off in early April at Brands Hatch.

As has been the case since the British F4 was launched, the championship will once again be decided across ten, three-race meetings at top circuits around the country including Donington Park, Silverstone and Knockhill.

“We are thrilled to be heading back to the British F4 paddock for the 2019 season,” Racing Director Trevor Carlin said. “The Championship holds many happy memories for us. We won the inaugural season with Lando Norris who three years’ later is on his way to Formula 1, so we know that the championship is the perfect platform for young and talented drivers looking to launch their career in the best possible way.

“We loved being in the paddock as part of the TOCA package and the racing was always exciting to watch, so we look forward to being part of this again and hope to be able to announce drivers shortly.”